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MLB Trade Rumors: 5 teams who should target Manny Machado

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles walks to the dugout during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles walks to the dugout during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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4. Boston Red Sox

The only team that Orioles owner Peter Angelos will rule out trading his star to is the New York Yankees. That leaves the Boston Red Sox theoretically in the mix at this stage. Of course, Angelos would have to really swallow his pride to send Machado to Boston (and there are those ugly beanball wars last year looming in the background), but on paper the Red Sox are still in. Machado, for all of the immaturity he has shown at times in his young career, would have no problem burying the hatchet and playing for the Red Sox if it comes to that.

Boston is facing an uphill battle to keep pace with the Yankees. Even though they are the two-time defending AL East champs, the Red Sox will enter 2018 as massive underdogs to make it three in a row. Signing J.D. Martinez to DH or play first base would help matters, but that creates problems with Hanley Ramirez, who is signed for 2018 and has a vesting option for 2019 that kicks in if he gets around 500 plate appearances next year.

The Red Sox a desperate to add power to a lineup that hit only 168 home runs last year and was 14th in the AL in slugging percentage. Machado might not be the most natural fit given the presence of Xander Bogaerts at shortstop and Rafael Devers breaking in at third base in the second half. Trading Devers should be a non-starter for Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski — unless they can convince Machado to sign an extension now. Again — this is more of a fit on paper than something very likely to occur, but Boston does have enough young, MLB-ready talent to interest the Orioles as they shop Machado.

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